Description

Wayne State University traces its earliest roots to the Civil War era and Detroit’s Harper Hospital, where its Medical College was founded in 1868. In 1917 a junior college was formed in the building now called Old Main, and along with four other schools—education, engineering, pharmacy, and a graduate school—these units would come to be called Wayne State University. In A History of Wayne State in Photographs, Evelyn Aschenbrenner traces the evolution of the university from those early schools into a modern research university with an extensive urban campus.

Aschenbrenner surveys over 140 years’ worth of historical photos and archival material to give readers a complete visual guide to Wayne State’s development. She charts official milestones of the university, including the organization of colleges into a university in the 1930s, the drive for state support in the 1950s, and the new buildings that were built as academic programs expanded. Aschenbrenner also surveys campus life, including disciplinary and curricular development, student life, and the university’s relations with its surrounding neighborhood, which were strained by various urban renewal programs. A thoughtful introduction by Charles K. Hyde, a foreword by Bill McGraw, a timeline of university events, and a list of university presidents complete this informative and attractive volume.

A History of Wayne State University in Photographs compiles rare and intriguing images that will be of interest to anyone with ties to Wayne State University. It will make a perfect keepsake for current and former students, faculty and staff, and anyone interested in local history.

Published by Wayne State University Press

Author(s)

Evelyn Aschenbrenner is a Wayne State University alumna and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in the Detroit Free Press and the Albuquerque Journal.

Reviews

“More than a mere photo book with scanty cutlines, this coffee-table volume is chock-full of interesting anecdotes and information. And the engaging images, covering more than 140 years, complement the text well. . . . It’s one that Wayne State alumni—and anyone interested in Detroit history—will treasure.”

— Hour Detroit

“Filled with countless beautiful black and white photos, there is much to embrace historically in A History of Wayne State University in Photographs.  A must for those with an appreciation of all things Detroit.”

— Midwest Book Review

“Wayne State University has changed a great deal since its beginnings more than 140 years ago, and the life and look of our campus has changed along with it. The archival photographs in this striking collection make it an essential reference for anyone interested in Wayne State’s remarkable evolution into a model urban research university. Both an art book and a historical record, Evelyn Aschenbrenner’s fascinating compilation is the perfect gift or keepsake for alumni and friends of Wayne State.”

— Jay Noren, President, Wayne State University

“This beautiful and lavishly illustrated book tells the story of one of the nation's most unique urban universities, and the city that grew up with it, in a way no words can convey. Once you pick it up, you can expect to have a hard time putting it down. I cannot imagine anybody who ever went to, taught at, or worked for Wayne State University not wanting a copy of their own.”

— Jack Lessenberry, Metro Times columnist, senior political analyst on Michigan Radio, and lecturer in communication at Wayne State University